What if I need to go backwards in order to go forward?

I hear it in my head on repeat—let the past go. Get rid of that baggage. Leave yesterday behind. Focus on the present.

Those are all good intentions, aren’t they? Scripture has a lot to say about leaving the past in the past. From Paul’s reminder in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are all “new creations in Christ” to his urging in Philippians 3:13-14 to forget what lies behind and “press on toward the goal” of heaven, it’s an important theme. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the destruction of her city, and Jesus Himself, when a potential disciple agreed to follow Him after he said goodbye to his family, said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 NIV).

And most of us would love to live that way, wouldn’t we? Do you ever have times where you know you’ve done wrong things and know you’re forgiven, yet you continue to beat yourself up over the years even though you’ve long since repented, as though forgiveness isn’t enough? You’ve got to go that extra step by berating yourself to truly be “punished enough”?

Or maybe something horrible happened to you many years ago, and while you know you’re safe now, you still find yourself triggered by trauma?

I’ve had some rough times in my life, and sometimes memories still come back in my dreams. I like to say I’ve let go of my “baggage of the past,” but it’s not always that easy.

A few months ago, one of my pastors at church mentioned in a sermon that sometimes, people need to go backwards in order to go forward. While the sermon was on something entirely different, that one question has stuck with me.

Is there a benefit to stepping back so we can move on?

What if I need to go backwards in order to go forward?

Thanks for watching! And I hope you'll also connect with me on social media and on my blog, which has a deeper reflection on this.

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